Loyal Heart Roaming the Skies

Xiaolin Town is located northeast of Fenglin City, with Qingshan Town in between. In terms of straight-line distance, it is the farthest town from the main city in the Fenglin City area.

Under Wei Yan's leadership, the group rushed past Qingshan Town without stopping and arrived outside Xiaolin Town in just half a day.

There is no green mountain outside Qingshan Town, and the name has been passed down for many years, or maybe it existed before but has since disappeared.

However, there is a small grove of moon cypress trees outside Xiaolin Town. Moon cypress has a calming effect, and furniture made of moon cypress wood is highly sought after.

It is said that the grove was once very large, but because moon cypress trees are extremely valuable, many townspeople illegally felled them, causing the grove to become smaller and smaller. If it weren't for Fenglin City's specific orders to prohibit illegal logging, this small forest would have disappeared years ago.

The constables transferred from Qingshan Town stayed in the grove, either sitting or lying down, appearing quite relaxed. They only gathered together to greet the group when they heard the sound of horse hooves.

These constables were only ordinary martial artists and naturally did not dare to investigate the situation in the town at present. They only served as an observation and warning role.

Wei Yan stayed outside the grove on horseback and casually swept his eyes over these people before asking, "What's the situation in Xiaolin Town?"

The constable leading the team from Qingshan Town was a broad-faced man in his forties. He answered, "Five days ago, fog appeared outside Xiaolin Town. At that time, we didn't pay too much attention to it and just thought it was a weather change. We could still see the outline of Xiaolin Town and faint figures. Some people from our Qingshan Town went to visit relatives. Yesterday, we received orders to set up checkpoints here for observation, but we didn't see anyone coming out. The fog has only become heavier, and now we can't see anything."

Jiang Wang looked towards Xiaolin Town among the group of disciples from the Dao Academy. The Fenglin City area was his hometown where he was born and raised. Although he grew up in Fengxi Town, he was not unfamiliar with Xiaolin Town.

The bandits of Xishan that he had defeated alone with his sword were entrenched in Xishan, ten miles north of Xiaolin Town.

In the past, Xiaolin Town could be seen from here at the grove of moon cypress trees. The town was not wealthy, but it was peaceful and harmonious. Now, there was only a sea of fog.

At this time, Wei Yan's voice sounded, "I asked you to observe Xiaolin Town here, but you were sloppy and undisciplined. Some of you even took the opportunity to illegally log moon cypress trees. Did you come here for official business or for personal gain?"

The constables from Qingshan Town were already pale, and the head constable kept bowing and wanting to explain something.

But Wei Yan's punishment had already been spoken, "The felled moon cypress trees will be sent to the city's garrison. In addition, everyone's pay will be withheld for a year. The head constable, as a leader, is dismissed from his position!"

The broad-faced man was ashen-faced, but he didn't even dare to protest and could only leave dejectedly.

Upon hearing Wei Yan's punishment, Jiang Wang noticed the few moon cypress trees that had been felled.

Wei Yan had already taken everything into account the moment he arrived.

Jiang Wang sighed at Wei Yan's sharpness while also feeling that this person was really strict.

Xiaolin Town had fallen, and this grove of moon cypress trees was temporarily ownerless. These constables were risking their lives to observe outside Xiaolin Town and took the opportunity to chop down a few trees to make up for their own expenses. Although it was a dereliction of duty, it was also understandable.Qingshan Town was not wealthy, and a year's penalty pay meant that these constables would suddenly become tight on money. Especially for this middle-aged man in his forties, being a head constable might already be the pinnacle of his life. But with Wei Yan's words, he was back to square one.

However, this trip was almost like a military march, with Wei Yan leading the way like a commander-in-chief. His orders were military orders, and no one could disobey them.

After Wei Yan finished handling things, he pulled the reins and took the lead, galloping towards Xiaolin Town.

The horses were all warhorses from the military camp, and the riders were all cultivators from the Taoist temple. Although there were only more than thirty people, they had the momentum of an army of thousands.

The sound of the horses' hooves was like thunder, but suddenly stopped!

The warhorses that had experienced many battles lifted their hooves and neighed in front of the mist that shrouded Xiaolin Town. No matter how the riders urged them, they refused to move forward.

More than thirty warhorses were frightened and neighed in unison, as if there was something in Xiaolin Town that made them extremely fearful. This scene was terrifying.

Even Wang Changxiang, who was usually calm and mild, had a serious expression.

Only Wei Yan's expression remained unchanged.

The armor on his body was mostly worn out, and his narrow and straight sword hung at his waist. The warhorse under him was tall and strong.

Everyone knew that Wei Yan had three beloved things.

But he suddenly drew his sword!

As if a shocking thunderbolt flashed out of nowhere, the sword light disappeared. The warhorse under him stopped neighing and its head fell off its body, which was then sprayed with blood that surged out of its neck.

The horse's body fell to the ground with a loud noise.

Wei Yan held his sword and looked at Xiaolin Town in the mist, his voice cold and ruthless: "What's the use of keeping someone who is cowardly in battle?"

"Good!" The first to respond was Du Yehu, who was naturally fierce and straightforward. He smashed the horse's head with a punch and said, "Wei, what's our next move?"

Wei Yan raised his right hand slightly and said, "Listen to my orders, dismount and prepare for battle, form an arrow formation with me as the arrowhead, and charge straight into Xiaolin Town!"

Wei Yan's killing of the horse had made everyone realize that there was no turning back. At this moment, there was no hesitation, and they all dismounted.

Wei Yan said again, "Raise your weapons!"

The sound of blades being unsheathed rang out!

At this time, Wei Yan's ordinary-looking deputy stepped forward. He raised his right palm, pinched his left hand, muttered something in his mouth, and finally said, "Sharpness!"

Jiang Wang felt the sharpness of his long sword suddenly increase. This sword could be said to be of excellent quality, and he almost felt like it could cut through anything.

"Attached flame!"

Flames ignited on all the weapons! The cultivators held their swords and looked like they were holding torches, ready to pierce through the mist and into Xiaolin Town.

"Solid form!"

Ling He felt his body become tough, and he had the urge to fight someone with his fists. But when he saw Du Yehu's angry face next to him, he quietly dispelled this illusion.

Zhao Rucheng thought that the group enhancement Dao technique was at least a third-grade superior Dao technique. Wei Yan's unremarkable deputy had actually released three Dao techniques without changing his expression. The Ministry of War was truly hiding dragons and crouching tigers.

No matter what the others thought, there could only be one will during a military march. With the Dao techniques enhancing them, Wei Yan stepped forward with his sword and was the first to enter Xiaolin Town.The group walked cautiously, the only sound in the silent town being their footsteps.

After walking for a while, the mist seemed to be getting thicker.

The mist was so thick that people could barely see beyond three steps, only able to see the fiery glow of their weapons standing tall in the dense fog.

They had to shrink their formation again, reducing the distance between each other from five steps to three steps. Any closer and it would affect their ability to fight.

Jiang Wang and his brothers were positioned towards the back of the group, with the lowest cultivation level and thus given priority protection, a tradition of the Daoist temple.

Du Yehu clenched his fists, not out of nervousness but excitement, eager to fight.

Jiang Wang had no doubt that even if the notorious Nine Great Demons were in front of them, he would not hesitate to throw a punch. Of course, whether or not he could win was another matter.

Suddenly, a cry came from outside the formation, "What is that?!"

Another voice grumbled, "Just ghosts, what is there to be afraid of?"

But soon, the voice turned to shock, "So many?!"

Hearing this, Wei Yan turned his head and slashed his sword!

A huge sword aura cut through the thick fog in an instant, revealing the street filled with wandering and ferocious ghosts!

In broad daylight, the ghosts roamed freely!